listener

American  

[lis-uh-ner] / ˈlɪs ə nər /

noun

1. someone who gives attention with the ear, especially for the purpose of hearing specific sounds, speech, instructions, etc..

   At story time, you may choose to be a reader or a listener.

2. someone who listens to a radio broadcast or to a specific radio program.

   They attract teenage listeners with pop songs about first love.

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Etymology

Origin of listener

First recorded in 1600–20; listen ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The rest of the band joins in as Ayewa calls for the listener to look up to a world above war, bitterness, and division.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

So for me personally as a listener, it’s about that effort, rather than getting the perfect pronunciation.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Clancy and his friends played listener voicemails and interviewed comedians and other guests in a basement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Before taking time off, the band had settled into making sleek, shimmery retro-disco tracks like Dynamite and Butter - designed to appeal to the sort of listener who finds Bruno Mars too crass and abrasive.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

He adds: “Reggie was the only person I took advice from. “He was a listener, and after he did the listening part he would have something to say that was probably in my best interest.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• audience